Beach  vacuum  cleaner

ABSTRACT

A vacuum cleaner for removal of items, such as cigarette butts or other debris, from a sandy surface with a minimal amount of sand contamination includes a receptacle positioned inside the vacuum, and a hose terminating in an angled nozzle to pick up items. One hose embodiment includes a transparent member so it can be monitored for clogging by the accumulated debris. The receptacle contains a plurality of openings sized to enable sand to be passed through the receptacle while debris is retained within it. Embodiments utilize different mechanisms to empty the vacuum and remove debris. A push button switch can be wired into the vacuum allowing for improved control of the vacuum, and increase battery life.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser.No. 62/517,991, filed 12 Jun. 2017 by the present inventor, and whosecontents are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to vacuum cleaners,and primarily to a vacuum cleaner that can be used on sandy surfaces,such as beaches, to remove debris from the beach without removing largequantities of the sandy surface. Embodiments can also be used forcleaning other types of sandy areas, for example, those commonly foundin playgrounds or sand traps on golf courses.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In addition to marine items such as shells, seaweed and driftwood, forexample, that are commonly washed ashore and accumulate on a beach,items left by human activity, ranging from food items, lost coins orjewelry, and other items, frequently cigar and cigarette butts,accumulate on most beaches. Some larger items, such as beveragecontainers, plastic and/or paper bags, can be easily removed bymechanical beach cleaning equipment, such as sweepers or other types ofvehicles. The smaller paper items, such as butts, present a differentproblem because they are often not removed by these devices, or if theyare, they are accompanied by a large amount of sand that is also removedfrom the beach surface. Recent reports from several New Jersey beachtowns have indicated that in addition to cigarette butts, other smalldebris, such as plastic straws, and plastic straws from boxed drinks,represent a major source of beach trash. While people may be employed tomanually pick up trash from beach surfaces, it can be a tedious andrepetitive job, and may be an inefficient process considering the sizeof many beaches. The present inventor has found a way to remove smallitems, such as butts, from a beach's surface and to do so with a minimalamount of sand contamination after modification of both a portablevacuum cleaner, and a portable wet/dry vacuum cleaner. The presentspecification describes embodiments of the vacuum, its' method of useand method of being modified.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to produce a vacuum cleaner thatcan be used on sandy surfaces to remove items from the sandy surface,and to do so with a minimal amount of sand contamination.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for usinga vacuum to remove items from a sandy surface, and to do so with aminimal amount of sand contamination.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a vacuum cleanerwith an emptying mechanism that facilitates emptying of its' contentswithout having to disassemble the vacuum.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method ofmodifying a vacuum cleaner for use on sandy surfaces for removal ofitems from the sandy surface a minimal amount of sand contamination.

A vacuum cleaner for removal of items, such as cigarette butts or otherdebris, from a sandy surface with a minimal amount of sand contaminationincludes a receptacle positioned inside the vacuum, and a hoseterminating in an angled nozzle to pick up items. One hose embodimentincludes a transparent member so it can be monitored for clogging by theaccumulated debris. The receptacle contains a plurality of openingssized to enable sand to be passed through the receptacle while debris isretained within it. Embodiments utilize different mechanisms to emptythe vacuum and remove debris. A push button switch can be wired into thevacuum allowing for improved control of the vacuum, and increase batterylife. A carrying strap can be attached to enable a user to carry thevacuum over a prolonged period.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of the first compartment of the embodimentshown in FIG. 1

FIG. 3 is an illustration of the upper chamber of the embodiment shownin FIG. 1

FIG. 4 illustrates the bottom receptacle, including the mounting plateand the basket.

FIG. 5 illustrates the basket with collected items.

FIG. 6 is a partial illustration of an alternate embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 6A is a rear view, showing the emptying mechanism; and

FIG. 6B is a side sectional view to show the emptying mechanism with thedoor open.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of another alternate embodiment of the presentinvention, and also illustrates the attachment of a strap.

FIG. 8 illustrates hose connections; FIG. 8A the connection to thenozzle; and FIG. 8B the connection from the hose element to thetransparent hose.

FIG. 9 is a rear view of the embodiment of FIG. 7; FIG. 9A showing theemptying mechanism; and FIG. 9B emptying mechanism with the coverattached.

FIG. 10 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view of the vacuum compartment of theembodiment of FIG. 10, illustrating attachment of the retaining ring tothe inside of the vacuum compartment.

FIG. 12 is a schematic illustration of the push-button switch and its'connection to the vacuum housing.

FIG. 13 is a schematic illustration of how the push-button switch iswired into the electrical system of a vacuum.

FIG. 14 is a schematic illustration of the push-button switch mounted atthe nozzle tip.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

For purposes of the present specification, while the term “beach” hasits meaning referring to the coastline, such as the area adjacent anocean or lake, it is also intended to encompass beaches that may befound along the shore of a river, stream or other body of water, as wellas other types of sandy areas, such as sand traps on golf courses,children's sand boxes and the like in playgrounds, sand areas positionedbeneath swings in playgrounds and the like, or other areas where sand ispresent or accumulates. In an extreme example the term “beach” couldalso encompass sand dunes or deserts.

An embodiment of the present invention (FIG. 1) is a vacuum cleaner 100,which comprises a housing 200, a hose 300 and nozzle 350. In thisembodiment, the vacuum 100 is a portable, hand-held vacuum that isbattery-powered, but alternate embodiments could include hand-held,corded vacuums that are powered by standard electrical power, such as ACcurrent, or other, depending upon the country of use. Other alternateembodiments could include vacuums that are upright, “stick” vacuums, orunits that are either mounted to or components of vehicles, such as astreet sweeper or beach cleaning machine. A representative vacuumcleaner useful as the vacuum for the present invention is a RIDGID®(Registered Trademark of RIDGID, Inc., Newark, Del.) 3 Gallon, 18 VoltCordless Handheld Wet Dry Vac, sold by The Home Depot, Atlanta, Ga. Thisvacuum is powered by an 18 volt rechargeable and replaceable battery.The vacuum is equipped with an expandable locking hose and a filter 242for capturing dirt. Depending upon the manufacturer, other brands ormodels of a portable vacuum may use different sizes/styles or types ofbatteries, and these are intended to be within the scope of the presentinvention.

The housing 200 has a handle 201 and may have indicia 202 on its sides,or other surfaces. The indicia 202 could be functional, such as safetywarnings (top indicia), or decorative, as in the bottom indicia (FIG.1). Housing 200 contains two compartments 210 and 240, with the firstcompartment 210 positioned at the front of the housing. Firstcompartment 210 is opened by moving the hinged cover 212 to an openposition, and the power source 214 (a rechargeable battery) ispositioned within the first compartment and is in electricalcommunication with an on/off switch 216 and the motor (not shown).

The hinged cover 212 includes a prong 220 at its sides that engages witha prong receiver 222 on the compartment wall 224 to close the firstcompartment 210 by a press-fit. The prong 220 and prong receiver 222 areconventional mechanisms used on many tools, containers or other devicesto effect closure of a housing or like component, as known to thoseskilled in the art.

Second compartment 240 includes an upper chamber 250, and a bottomreceptacle 270 which is attached to the upper chamber 250 by a pair oflatches 280, a first latch on one side of the compartment, and a secondlatch on the second side of the compartment 240. The upper chamber 250includes an upper surface 251. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 andsubsequent drawings, the upper chamber 250 includes a pair of openingsin the upper surface 251, a first opening 252 towards the front of thechamber, the first opening 252 being the opening for the vacuum, and asecond opening 256 towards the back of the chamber, second opening 256being the opening for use as a blower. The vacuum has dual functions,and can serve as either a vacuum or as a blower, depending upon theopening to which a hose is connected. The inner surface 258 of the upperchamber 250 includes a receptacle for attaching a filter 242. The bottomreceptacle 270 has a pair of side walls 272 and a pair of end walls 274,the side walls each having a ridge 276 that extends outward towards thetop of the side wall 274. A mounting plate 278 is attached to the secondcompartment bottom near the front end of the second compartment 240, andthe mounting plate 278 receives the container basket 290. The mountingplate 278 minimizes any movement of the basket 290 during use. Themounting plate 278 has a base 280 and side walls 282. The base 280 isattached to the bottom of the second compartment by a fastener, such asan adhesive or fastener such as a screw, hook and loop fastener orcomparable means for attachment. The height of the sidewalls 282 issufficient to retain the basket 290 in place; the sidewalls' height doesnot have to reach as much as a quarter of the height of the basket, letalone the full height of the basket to secure the basket in place. Thebasket 290 is mounted within the bottom receptacle 260, and can besecured to interior wall 262 of the receptacle by means of fasteners264. The fasteners can be any one or more of screws, screw eyes, cotterpins, or hook and loop fasteners to allow for removal of the basket. Inthe embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the fasteners 264 are magnets attachednear the top of the basket. A pair of metal contacts 260 are attached tothe inside wall of the second compartment 240 so the magnets will have acontact point which with to attach, and retain the basket 290 within thesecond compartment 240. When a fastener such as a screw or screw eye isused, depending upon how far the screw is positioned within the housing,or the angle of a screw eye, the basket 290 can also be removable fromthe bottom receptacle 270.

The vacuum 100 is used with the filter 242 present in the housing 200;the second compartment 240 is closed by attaching the upper chamber 250to the bottom receptacle 270 using latches 280, the basket 290 ispositioned beneath the first opening 252, and near the filter 242. Firstopening 252 includes a prong 253 onto which the female end 302 of thehose is attached. The male end 304 of the hose terminates in aprojection 304 onto which a nozzle 350 of other attachment can be joinedto the hose 300. The vacuum model purchased and modified by the inventorcomes with a single hose, which is extendable, and which could be usedwith nozzle 350. It has been found that the hose assembly 300 in oneembodiment of the present invention (FIG. 1) which contains atransparent hose, enables the user to watch the flow of material intothe vacuum, and monitor whether the hose is becoming clogged. As will beseen in the figures, hose clamps 310 are used to secure the connectionsbetween the different types of hose used for this embodiment.

The second compartment 240 is closed when the upper chamber 250 isjoined to the bottom receptacle 270, and held in place by latch 280. Theupper chamber 250 and the bottom receptacle 270 are aligned with eachother, and pushed together. The flaps 284 of the latch 280 engage with aridge 276 of both the upper chamber 250 and the bottom receptacle 270,and close the second compartment 240. The latch 280 is attached to theside of the upper chamber, as has been previously described. Each latch280 comprises a base 282 that is attached to the upper chamber, and a“wing-like” pair of flaps 284 that extend outward from the base 280. Theflap ends 286 engage the ridges 276 of the upper chamber 250 and theridge 276 of the bottom receptacle 270.

In this embodiment the hose 300 comprises a hose element 302 attached toa transparent hose 304 by means of a connector 306 and hose clamps 310,and the transparent hose 304 attached to the vacuum opening 252 by meansof a second connector 312 and hose clamps 310. The hose element 302 canbe a “standard” flexible hose that is commonly sold with wet/dryvacuums, or can be an elongated extension rod for use with such hoses.In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the hose element 302 is an extensionrod.

The transparent hose 304 has a diameter greater than that of hoseelement 302, and the final connector 314 has a diameter larger than thatof the transparent hose 304. The transparent hose 304 can be a piece oftubing, such as TYGON® Tubing (Registered trademark of Saint-GobainPerformance Plastics Corp, Solon, Ohio for flexible non-metallictubing), or other similar clear tubing. The final connector 314 can be atype of tubing similar to that used for a wet/dry vac, or other tubingsimilar to the “standard” hose that is capable of withstanding thevacuum without collapsing or causing operational difficulties.

The use of a series of hoses, in which the diameter of the hoses thatare closer to the vacuum increase in size, facilitates removal of items,and prevents the hose from being blocked. The use of hoses of decreasingdiameter as one approaches the vacuum causes the system to becomeclogged.

Other embodiments could use the “standard” hose that is provided by themanufacturer with the vacuum. In such an embodiment, the nozzle 350 isattached to one end of the hose, and the second end of the hose attachedto the prong 253 where it is locked in place by locking mechanism 255.Other embodiments could utilize a combination of the “standard” hose, orpieces of the “standard” hose, in combination with the transparenttubing and/or the other solid tubing and connectors. When using suchcombinations, the diameter of the tubing being used should increase asthe tubing extends from the nozzle to the body of the vacuum itself.

A nozzle 350 is attached to the “free” end of the hose element 302 by apress fit and held in place by hose clamps 310. This inventor has foundthat the use of a nozzle 350 with a diagonal end 352 works well to pickup debris from a sandy surface without being readily clogged.

Basket 290 includes a bottom 292 and four walls 294, which may be ofequal length (if the basket is square) or unequal length (if basket isrectangular). The bottom 292 and walls 294 are made from a wire mesh,and are open, with the openings sized to be large enough to retaindebris 298 that enters through the open top of the basket, allowing anysand that is drawn in to escape and be retained within the secondcompartment 240. Suitable materials for the basket include various typesof wire mesh, chicken wire and the like, and can be made from materialssuch as aluminum, steel, stainless steel, reeds, other plant or naturaland/or man-made fibers and the like. The size of the openings within thebottom and walls of the basket is more significant to the functioning ofthe beach vacuum 100 than the materials used to make the basket 290.

The weight of the battery and its' position at the front of the vacuum100, and/or its' combination with the hose assembly, may cause thevacuum to be weighted to the front, and a user could become tired whilehand-holding the vacuum for a period of time. A strap 390 can beattached to the vacuum 100 to alleviate this problem, allowing the userto place the strap 390 over their shoulder and position the vacuum 100more evenly for use. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the strap 390 isattached to the support wire 380 that connects the vacuum handle 201with the hose 300. The support wire 380 can be a piece of rope, string,fabric, metal, paper tube, or similar material that can be used toconnect to items. The wire 380 also keeps the hose 300 elevated tofacilitate its' use with the vacuum 100.

In alternate embodiments, one or more fasteners can be attached to thevacuum 100, and used for attachment of the strap 390. Examples of suchfasteners include, but are not limited to, D-rings, loops, carabiners,turnbuckles or the like. The strap 390 can be chosen from any type ofstrap, such as a guitar strap, camera strap, backpack strap, or a paddedor non-padded strap, a piece of rope or other material.

An alternate embodiment of the present invention 500 (FIG. 6) comprisesmost of the same components as the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 andsubsequent figures. This alternate embodiment 500 will use the samereference numerals as the prior embodiment, except where there arestructural differences. Alternate embodiment 500 includes an emptyingmechanism 520 situated in the rear of second compartment 240. In thealternate embodiment, the emptying mechanism 520 in the rear wallcomprises an opening 522 and a hinged door 524 that is attached to therear wall by a fastener 526, and which door 524 will seal against theopening 522 once the vacuum 100 is turned on. The opening 522 maycontain a lip 528 onto which a sealing means, such as an O-ring 530 canbe positioned, and the hinged door 524 may contain a prong 532 at theend opposite the hinge to form a press-fit and seal the opening 522 whenthe vacuum 100 is turned off, so that sand or other debris that has notbeen retained by the basket 290 will not leak out. This provides aneasier mechanism for emptying the vacuum 100 between uses, andeliminates the need to remove the bottom receptacle 270 from the secondcompartment. When one is aware that the basket 290 has approached itscapacity or knows it is full, then the user would have to disassemblethe second compartment; the rear emptying mechanism 520 facilitatesemptying the vacuum 100.

Another alternate embodiment of the present invention 600 (FIG. 7)comprises most of the same components as the embodiment shown in FIG. 1and subsequent figures. This alternate embodiment 600 will use the samereference numerals as the prior embodiment, except where there arestructural differences. Alternate embodiment 600 includes an emptyingmechanism 620 situated in the rear of second compartment 240. In thisalternate embodiment, the emptying mechanism 620 includes an opening 624in the rear wall 622, across which opening 624 a screen 626 is attachedto the rear wall 622 by an adhesive or a fastener. The screen 624 can bea material similar to that used for the basket 290, or a wire mesh,nylon screen of various mesh sizes, or comparable material. As shown inFIG. 9A, the screen 624 is surrounded by a threaded cover 628 whichincludes a threaded throat 630 onto which is threaded a cap 632 (FIG.9B). In this embodiment 600, the cap 632 can be removed, and the vacuum600 raised at its front so that it is tilted to the rear of the vacuum,and any sand or other items that have passed through the basket 290 canbe removed from the second receptacle without having to completely openthe vacuum 600. After several repeated uses, as the user determines thatthe basket 290 is filling up and needs to be emptied, after the sandetc. has been removed through this emptying mechanism, the latches 280can be opened, the bottom receptacle removed and the basket 290 removed,emptied and placed back into the bottom receptacle. The vacuum 600 isthen reassembled and is ready for reuse.

For use, the user positions the basket 290 within the housing 200,connects the hose 300 to the housing, turns on the power using powerswitch 216 which is in electrical communication with the motor andbattery.

In another embodiment (reference number 800, FIG. 10), the motor is froma Dyson V8 Absolute Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner (Dyson TechnologyLimited, Chicago, Ill.). This motor is stated as being capable ofachieving 110,000 revolutions per minute (“rpm”), and the weight of acomplete vacuum unit is 5.75 pounds (specified on manufacturer'swebsite, www.dyson.com).

As in other embodiments, vacuum cleaner 800 comprises a housing 810, ahose 880 and nozzle 900. The housing 810 has a handle 812, and a trigger814 that functions as an on/off switch. The housing could have indicia(not shown) on its sides, or other surfaces. The indicia could befunctional, such as safety warnings, or decorative, as seen in otherembodiments. Housing 810 includes a compartment 820 in which the motorand electrical components are contained, and a second compartment 830 toreceive collected waste. The second compartment 830 is manufactured froma plastic. Second compartment 830 includes a bottom door 832 which isattached to compartment wall 834 by hinge 836. Door is held in place bymeans of a locking mechanism 838 in communication with a releasemechanism 839 on the housing. By pulling up on the release mechanism 839locking mechanism 838 disengages and releases door 832, and the contentsof second compartment can be removed or dumped out from the compartment830. A gasket and a receptacle that are mounted on the bottom door 832are which would be inside the compartment when the door 832 is closedare not shown in order to simplify the drawing.

In this embodiment, the second compartment 830 has been modified, with aretaining mechanism 840 being attached to the compartment wall 834, andthe retaining mechanism having a base 842 and retaining piece 844 thatreceives the ring 850 between them, and the retaining mechanism isclosed by a fastener 846 (FIG. 11) The fastener 846 can be a screw,cotter pin, nail, peg or the like. The ring 850 has the approximatediameter of the second compartment, and retains a filter (to bedescribed further below) within the compartment. The retaining mechanismbase 842 can be attached to the compartment wall 834 by an adhesive,hook and loop fastener, fasteners such as screws, nail or the like, orother means of attachment known to those skilled in the art.

The filter 860 used in this embodiment is a mesh filter through whichring 850 is inserted and retains the filter 860 within the secondcompartment. The filter top end 862 is generally open, and could besecured to the portal component where the vacuum enters the compartmentby a hose clamp (not shown), elastic band, or similar attachment device.An example of a suitable filter is a mesh bag that is commonly used topackage fruits and vegetables, such as onions or citrus fruit. Theopenings are sufficiently wide to retain debris such as cigarette butts,and allow smaller items, such as sand particles, to pass through.

In use, the vacuum's motor is activated, the nozzle directed at thedesired surface to be cleaned, a quantity of debris removed from thatsurface, and the motor turned off. In this embodiment, the user pulls upon the release mechanism 839, the locking mechanism 838 disengages andreleases door 832, and the contents of second compartment can be removedor dumped out from the compartment 830. Any sand that has been drawninto the container has been separated from debris within the filter, andthe accumulated sand is discarded. If necessary, the top of the filteris opened, and the debris accumulated therein removed and discarded. Ingeneral, the quantity of sand taken up by the vacuum is minimal incomparison to the quantity of debris removed by the vacuum.

Another vacuum embodiment 1000 employs a push-button switch 1050 (FIGS.12-13), in which a female receptacle 1010 is mounted within the vacuum'shousing and wired into the electrical system of the vacuum. Thisembodiment enables the user to operate the vacuum when needed, ratherthan a continuously on manner, and allowing for the conservation ofbattery life. The push button switch 1050 is connected to an electricalextension cord 1020 and the extension cord plug 1030 connected to thereceptacle. The base of the push-button switch 1050 can be covered withelectrical tape, plastic, wood or other material to close the back andprevent contact with exposed wiring. When the cord is plugged into thereceptacle, the circuitry of the vacuum is interrupted, and the motor isoff. When the switch 1050 is pressed by a user, the circuit is completedand the motor activated. By having the switch 1050 on an extension cordand the switch 1050 being a distance from the vacuum's housing, the usercan operate the switch 1050 with one hand while the user's other hand ison the tubing and picking up debris. When the button of the switch 1050is released, the motor is deactivated. In an alternate embodiment, theswitch 1050 could be wired directly in the electrical system rather thanthrough the electrical receptacle, and could be positioned directly onthe vacuum housing, or extend from the housing in a manner similar tothat shown in FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 illustrates another embodiment in which the switch 1050 ismounted at the tip of a nozzle, such that when the nozzle tip contactsthe surface, the vacuum is turned on and debris can be picked up fromthe beach surface. The extension cord 1020 can be taped to the hose, orallowed to hang free. The nozzle has an angle, and that angle rangesfrom about 30 degrees to about 75 degrees; in the embodiment shown inthe drawings, the angle is generally about 45 degrees.

Without being bound by any theory, items like cigarette butts, paper andother debris have a density that is less than the density of sand; theselighter items are picked up first by the vacuum, such that bymanipulating the position of the nozzle with respect to the item and thesurface surrounding the item, the item can be picked up with a minimalpickup of sand from the surface.

The embodiments of the present specification are not intended to belimited for use solely on beaches. These embodiments could be used inother types of sandy areas, for example, to clean sand traps on golfcourses, children's sand boxes and the like in playgrounds, sand areaspositioned beneath swings in playgrounds and the like, or other areaswhere sand is present or accumulates. In addition, embodiments of thepresent invention could also be suitable to remove other small debris,such as plastic straws, and plastic straws from boxed drinks, from asurface.

Components such as the basket, mesh filter, the ring, and the associatedmounting hardware could also be packaged and sold independently of thevacuum, enabling someone who already owns a particular vacuum unit toretrofit it for use as a beach vacuum.

Although embodiments of this invention have been described with acertain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the presentdisclosure has been made only by the way of illustration, and thatnumerous changes in construction and arrangement of parts may beresorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

I claim:
 1. A vacuum cleaner comprising: a housing including a motor, apower source, a collection container; the housing further including ameans for activating the motor; a debris collector contained within thecollection container, the debris collector being attached to thecollection container, a hose in communication with the housing and thecollection container, the hose terminating in a nozzle.
 2. The vacuum asdescribed in claim 1, wherein the collection container further comprisesan emptying mechanism, the emptying mechanism including an opening, aneck extending through the collection container, the neck includingthreads, a threaded closure attached to the neck, and a separationdevice covering the opening, the threaded closure being removable,enabling small debris to be removed from the collection container. 3.The vacuum as described in claim 2, wherein the nozzle is angled at anangle ranging from about 30 degrees to about 60 degrees.
 4. The vacuumas described in claim 2, further comprising a normally-open switch inelectrical communication with the on/off switch and the motor, wherebywhen a user depresses the switch, a circuit is completed and the motoris turned on or off.
 5. The vacuum as described in claim 4, wherein theswitch is positioned a distance from the vacuum housing, such that whena user depresses the switch, a circuit is completed and the motor isturned on or off.
 6. The vacuum as described in claim 3, wherein thehose is transparent, enabling debris accumulation within the hose to beseen.
 7. The vacuum as described in claim 3, further comprising a filtercontained with the collection receptacle to separate debris.
 8. Thevacuum as described in claim 7, wherein the filter is a mesh filter. 9.The vacuum as described in claim 7, wherein the filter is disposedaround a ring that is attached to the container.
 10. The vacuum asdescribed in claim 4, wherein the normally-open switch is mounted on thenozzle whereby contact with a surface will depress the switch andactivate the motor.
 11. A method to modify a vacuum cleaner tofacilitate the separation of collected debris, the method comprising thesteps of: installing a means for receiving a debris container within thecollection container; mounting the debris container within the means forreceiving;
 12. The method as described in claim 11, further comprisingthe step of installing a normally-open switch into the vacuum housing,the switch in electrical communication with the on/off switch and themotor, whereby when a user depresses the switch, a circuit is completedand the motor is turned on or off, thereby conserving battery life. 13.The method as described in claim 12, wherein the debris container ischosen from the group consisting of a mesh basket, a wire basket, a meshnet and a mesh filter.
 14. The method as described in claim 13, furthercomprising the step of securing the debris container to the member wherethe vacuum port enters the collection container.